Longtime mascot suffers back injury in November rehearsal

The man who has played KC Wolf since the Kansas City Chiefs introduced the mascot nearly 25 years ago will return to Arrowhead Stadium after reaching a settlement with an undisclosed party in his injury case.

Dan Meers was seriously injured while rehearsing a zip line routine on the day before for a game last November. A bungee cord snapped and sent him free-falling into stadium seats. He suffered a back injury that required surgery.

"I shattered my tailbone, which is extremely painful," he said. "And one of the vertebrae in my back."

After the settlement, Meers will be back in costume for Saturday night's preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings.

"I'm just thankful to be back to doing what I do. I run around in a costume and I act like a nut for a living. It doesn't get any better than that," Meers said. "You used to get in trouble for that in school. Now I'm making a living doing it."

It's unclear how much of his previous routine will continue. In past seasons, Meers had ridden an ATV on the field and tackled actors playing mascots from opposing teams. In a release from his attorney's office, Meers and the Chiefs are discussing a modified role as the mascot.

He said he bears no ill will toward the people involved in his accident.

"He was a good friend of mine before this happened, and you know what? This was an accident. He did not intend to hurt me in any way shape or form."

Meers said he wanted to extend his gratitude to the Chiefs, the fans and Kansas City.

"The get-well wishes and support have been overwhelming and have sustained my family and me during this difficult time," he said.

The amount of the settlement has not been disclosed.

A previous version of the story reported that the deal had been reached with the Kansas City Chiefs. Meers reached his deal with an outside party, which was not disclosed under the terms of the deal.

THE TIPS HOTLINE. AN ARREST HAS BEEN MADE IN THIS CASE BUT POLICE NEED INFORMATION ON THAT CAR. THE MAN THAT MAKES US CHEER AND MAKES US LAUGH AND HAS BEEN KNOWN KNOWN AS K.C. WOLF FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS TALKS ABOUT HIS ACCIDENT. DAN MEERS EVEN LAUGHS DESPITE THE ACCIDENT THAT LEFT HIM UNABLE TO WORK FOR SIX MONTHS. THE BUNGEE CORD SENT HIM FREE FALLING INTO THE STADIUM SEATS THE DAY BEFORE A GAME. I SHATTERED MY TAILBONE WHICH IS EXTREMELY PAINFUL AND ONE OF MY VERTEBRAES IN MY BACK. I HAD BACK SURGERY. THOSE RESPONSIBLE, HE WAS A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE BEFORE THIS HAPPENED, AND YOU KNOW WHAT, THIS WAS AN ACCIDENT. HE DID NOT INTEND TO HURT ME IN ANYWAY, SHAPE OR FORM. MEERS AND UNIDENTIFIED